Adjustable tool handle fastening



Oct. 22, 1946. T J. MCINTOSH 2,409,879

ADJUSTABLE TOOL HAN DEE FASTENING Fi led Feb. 28, 1946 Inventor,WEI/23051:,

Moms J 89 T attorneys,

Patented Oct, Z2, 1946 um i).

ADJUSTABLE TOOL HANDLE FASTENING Thomas J. McIntosh, weenie, s. 0.,assignor'of' one-half to Edgar Moore, CharlottaN. C'.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a reversible fork, rake, or hoe.

An object of this invention is the provision of simple and efficientmeans for adjusting a tool for use as a fork, or a rake, or a hoe.

Another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the number ofparts of a reversible or convertible tool.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simple andeificient handle structure whereby the movement of the handle alone willentirely control the locking of a tool head in an adjusted position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my inventioncomprisescertain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts aswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fork constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, while Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, showing the tool as itappears when being used as a rake.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of thetool or device.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the device used as a hoe.

Referring to the drawing, in which the preferred embodiments of thisinvention are illustrated, I designates the tool head which may be apart of a fork 2 or a hoe blade 3. This tool head is disc-shape, and isprovided with parallel flat sides. In the periphery of said tool head isa plurality of conical sockets 4.

A socket device 5 comprises an internally clamping jaws I engage theflat sides of the dischead I. A rivet 8 extends through the jaws 1, anddisc-head I securing the same in an assembled position, but permittingsaid tool disc-head I to be rotated upon said jaws or socket device 5,sufilciently to adjust fork 2 to the position of a fork as shown inFigure 1, or adjusted to form a rake as shown in Figure 3.

The handle 9 is provided on its inner end with a sleeve device III. Thissleeve device is provided with 2 cars II and is externally threaded onits outer end, as clearly seen in Figure 4. A plug I2 is rigidly securedin the sleeve device I0, and is provided with a conical spur I3.Therefore, when handle 9 is rotated the fixed pin or spur I3 moves vbodily therewith. The conical spur I3 is of imthreaded collar 6 and twoclamping jaws I. The

portance because it moves readily into a particular socket 4, eventhough the socket is not fully registering with the center of the spur;the pointed end of the spur I3 rides down the inclined'wall of theconical socket, causing a slight movement of the head I, as the spurassumes its complete seated position, as shown in Figure 4; in otherwords, by reason of the spur I3 being conical shape, if at first onlythe point thereof engages the side of the socket 4, by continuing therotary movement of the handle 9, the spur I3 will ride into and be fullyand snugly seated in the socket 4.

In operation, when the tool is in a locked position as shown in Figure 4all that is necessary to unlock the tool is for the operator to impartrotary movement to the handle to cause it to be threaded outwardly whichwill remove the conical spur I3 from the tool head I, where-upon thetool head can be rotated on rivet 8 to the desired position, as forplacing the tool in condition to be used as a rake, then by rotatinghandle 9 to cause it to move inwardly, conical spur I3 will ride into aregistering socket 4, and be seated.

therein, where-upon the tool can be used as desired, without the fork 2moving on the socket device 5.

In Figure 5 the tool head I is shown on a hoe 7 blade 3. The structureof the tool head I and the operation of the device is the same ashereinbefore described for the fork structure.

Other tool blades or instruments can be used provided the novelstructure of the disc tool head is embodied on the tool,because thesocket device 5 will receive the tool disc-head irrespective asto thetype digging, raking, or cutting blade or instrument contemplated.

While I have described the preferred embodimerits of m invention andillustrated the same in the accompanying drawing, certain minor changesor alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I,therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations asshall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: V

-1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a toolprovidedv with a disc-head, said disc-head provided with a plurality ofsockets in its periphery, a socket device provided with clamping jaws,said jaws being against the sides of said disc-head only, fasteningmeans extending through said jaws and disc-head, said socket deviceprovided with an internally threaded sleeve, a handle provided with afixed spur, and said handle normally threaded into said sleeve with saidspur extending into one of said sockets of-the disc-head.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a toolprovided with a disc-head, said disc-head provided with a plurality ofconical shaped sockets in its periphery, a socket device provided withclamping jaws, said .jaws against the sides of said disc-head only,fastening means extending through said jaws and disc-head, said socketdevice provided with an internally threaded sleeve, a handle providedwith a conical shaped spur, said spur being rigidly mounted upon saidhandle, and said handle normally threaded into said sleeve with saidconical shape spur extending into one of said conical sockets of thedisc-head. r

said conical spur will ride into and be seated threaded collar, saidclamping jaws engaging the V 7 sides only of said disc-head, a rivetextending through said clamping jaws and said disc-head, a handleprovided on its inner end with a sleeve device, said sleeve deviceprovided on its inner end with two ears engagingsaid handle and on itsouter end with external threads, and a plug provided with an outwardlyextending conical spur fixedly secured within said sleeve device,whereby when said handle is rotated inwardly within one of said conicalsockets.

v THOMAS J. McINTOSH.

